In 2008, York weighed 300 pounds. Motivated by "The Biggest Loser," she dropped 157 pounds by the end of 2013. The producers of the show liked her story so much, they invited her to the season finale of "The Biggest Loser" on Feb. 4. At the finale, Frederickson won by dropping 105 pounds over about seven months. York said she saw Frederickson backstage before the show and texted her husband.

"I was honestly shocked at first," York said during a phone interview this week.

Frederickson's drastic weight loss spurred controversy with fans of the show and health organizations voicing their concern. "Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels, who will bring her "Maximize Your Life" tour to Kalamazoo on March 27, was visibly shocked by the results (see video below).

In an recent phone interview with the Tennessean, Michaels called the weight loss "absurd." York said she noticed Frederickson's post-finale interviews were cancelled and it took her several days before speaking publicly. But York said she was surprised at the level of backlash against Frederickson and "The Biggest Loser."

York said she didn't think Frederickson went to an "extreme" to win. She said she thinks Frederickson did what she had to do to win the competition and the $250,000 prize. York said she was surprised by the reaction, both from people at the post-finale party and online.

York said she noticed people avoiding Frederickson after the finale.

“At the after party, there were a lot of people who didn’t want to talk to her or address her. One person said they couldn’t wrap their mind around it," York said.

York pointed out Frederickson was an athlete and hadn't been overweight for very long, so it may have been easier for her to shed about 60 percent of her body weight (from 260 to 105 pounds). She also said there was a three-month span from when taping ended and the finale happened, so Frederickson could've lost even more weight on her own.

"I wouldn't put any blame on the show," York said.

During her trip to Los Angeles for the finale, York met and posed for photos with Frederickson and "The Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels.

York said she was a big fan of Michaels and became a more ardent supporter after their brief interaction.

“She’s normal. I don’t know that I expected her to be. She was wonderful, nice and just a normal person. I absolutely love her," York said.

York said she told Michaels she hoped to attend her appearance in Kalamazoo on March 27. Michaels told York to contact her assistant for VIP passes.

York said the assistant followed through and she will attend the Miller Auditorium event with her husband. She hopes to meet Michaels again on March 27. Michaels' motivational tour focuses on more than just eating healthy and exercising.

It also aims to help others improve their professional and social happiness.

York hopes to use the event to become a better public speaker, a career path she plans to pursue in the future.